Teaching No Greater Call Part B: Lesson 12

Teaching From the Scriptures

I was really happy to have the opportunity to teach this lesson because I have a testimony of the spiritual power that can come from reading and teaching from the scriptures.  One goal I have had with this class has been to use the scriptures more while teaching from this manual.  I think today's lesson went really well; I think the reason for this was because I had the spirit with me while I taught.  Our discussion on the scriptures went so well that I decided not to do the group activity that I had planned and instead asked some backup questions that I had found at the last second.  HERE is the link to the lesson on lds.org.  I got some ideas for some discussion questions from THIS priesthood lesson.

Intro

• Show what the scriptures mean to me video
• What do the scriptures mean to you?  What is their role in your life? (This question was the majority of the time in the lesson.  I shared a personal story of how the scriptures have affected me in my life.)
• What are some ways that you utilize the scriptures in teaching in your home or in the church?
• Providing Context
• Likening - 1 Nephi 19:23.  What does “likening” mean?
• How can we overcome obstacles to scripture study?
• Read Doctrine and Covenants 68:2–4. The inspired teachings of modern-day Apostles and Prophets is scripture. How have you been blessed as you have treated their counsel as scripture?

End

• Moroni 10:3-5 What does Moroni tell us about reading the scriptures? Bear testimony of this promise.

Here are some things that I planned but decided not to do since the discussion was going so well. 

• “Look for” and “Listen for” Approaches
• What are some specific things you can encourage learners to look for or listen for when you teach from the scriptures?
• Study Helps in the Scriptures - Split class into 4 groups.  We are going to learn about how we can utilize these study helps more while teaching.  Each group will receive a scriptural study help, an example and a question.  Study your example and question and then have a group discussion.  In 5 minutes we’ll regroup and talk about what each group learned from their discussion.  
• Group 1 - Bible Dictionary
• Group 2 - Footnotes & Cross References
• Group 3 - Topical Guide
• Group 4 - Headings & Introductory Pages

Teaching No Greater Call Part B: Lesson 11

Keeping the Doctrine Pure

This week I was able to teach a lesson on the importance of teaching pure doctrine.  I thought this topic was easy and hard at the same time.  Easy because I loved the first half of the lesson where it discussed what teachers should be doing, hard because the second half discussed what teachers should not be doing and sometimes I find it hard to "come down on" the members of my class like they are doing something wrong.  Luckily, I have given enough lessons about the importance of following the manual that I just follow the manual and know that God will lead and inspire me and the class members in what direction the lesson should go.  HERE is the link to the lesson on lds.org.  I found some of the questions I used in this lesson on the youth lesson questions on pure doctrine HERE.

Intro

• I decided to start the class with a discussion about the sacrifices that have been made to bring the pure doctrine to us. What is or has been the cost of the book of mormon coming forth? The doctrine and covenants?  What are some of the prices that have been paid?  Here are some ideas I had and the class contributed a lot more:
• Mormon/Moroni living to literally record to dictate and annotate
• 1 N 6:6 “commandment unto my seed, that they should not occupy these plates with things which are not of worth unto the children of men.”
• Gold plates were a valuable resource and Nephi’s family spent their gold on the scriptures. (also other plates on other valuable metals)
• Laban gave his life so that we could have the BoM. God saw fit that he could die so that we could have them. “It is better that one man should perish than an entire nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief.” 1 N 4:13
• Martyrs: Abinadi, Joseph Smith, Laban, David W. Patton (apostle), Hyrum Smith, etc.
• What do you think it means to “keep the doctrine of the church pure”?  
• Why is this so important?  What are some of the potential outcomes - good or bad?

Your Responsibilities as a Teacher

• I used THIS talk as a resource.  I printed out each topic and taped it up on the board as we talked about it, read scriptures, quotes about each, etc. 
• What are some specific things you can do to keep the doctrine pure? or how do you, as a teacher, make sure you are teaching pure doctrine? Is feeling good about it enough?
• I believe this was the thesis to this lesson: What is the difference between “teaching so plain that students understand” and “teaching so plainly that no one can misunderstand”?

Cautions for Gospel Teachers

• What can you do as a teacher if a comment is speculative, a private interpretation or not doctrinal (& not hurt feelings or make things awkward)?
• Speculation: What should you do if you don’t know the answer?
• Gospel Hobbies - Quote by Elder Cook 2003, Additional insight by Dallin H Oaks
• Sensational Stories - Hunter Quote from Lesson 9
• Reshaping Church History - Pres Benson’s talk
• Private interpretations: How is this different from a regular comment in sunday school or your opinion on the scriptures?

End

• When have you felt the power that comes with teaching pure doctrine?

Teaching No Greater Call Part B: Lesson 9

Recognizing and Following the Spirit in Your Teaching

It's been a while since my last blog post!  I was out of town for three Sundays in a row so I got a little break from teaching.  I'm back now and should be teaching every other week now that summer is almost over.

This week I loved the topic for the lesson - recognizing and following the spirit while teaching.  This has been a concept I have been working on as I teach - letting the spirit guide me and the discussion in class.  I really loved the prep for this lesson because the manual had a lot of great insight and resources and I didn't really have to go find other resources really to supplement.  We didn't even get through the whole lesson because of a great discussion on following the spirit and recognizing spiritual promptings. HERE is the link to this lesson in the manual.

Intro

• Have any of you ever taught a lesson that went poorly or just not great?  What happened? Sometimes, a lesson in church can go poorly if we fail to recognize and follow the spirit in our teaching. 

Recognizing the Spirit 

• Terms “still small voice” or “whisperings of the spirit” or “burning in bosom” - these are different  manifestation of the spirit
• 1 Kings 19:12; 1 Nephi 17:45; D&C 85:6 - what do we learn from these scriptures about how the Lord communicates?
• D&C 9:8 and D&C 6:22-23 - what is the Lord referring when he tells Oliver of the burning in his bosom? What is the relation of this burning to the peace discussed earlier, a peace that came in answer to his prayers? (resource for these questions here)
• How has the Lord communicated in these methods to you?  Important to share how we each individual recognize the spirit and what that looks like for each of us. 

The Spirit Can Guide You as You Prepare to Teach 

• In what ways can the spirit guide you as you prepare to teach lessons?  Have any of these experiences ever happened to you while preparing lessons?  What was the outcome?

The Spirit Can Guide You While You Teach 

• Read D&C 100:5-6
• How can we fulfill this promise and teach by the spirit during our lessons?

You Can Help Others Recognize the Spirit 

• What are some ways that we can teach those that don’t yet know how to recognize the spirit?